U.S. to Buddhists: We Back Ky

Item

derivative filename/jpeg

363-04819.pdf

Digital Object Identifier

363-04819

Title

U.S. to Buddhists: We Back Ky

Description

Article published in the New York Herald Tribune about the continued American support for South Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Cao Kỳ, despite continued Buddhist opposition, page 2

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Draft transcripts were automatically generated via Google Document AI and are currently under review. Please report significant errors to Archives & Special Collections at archives@unl.edu.

Transcript

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- Page 1
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NEWS PERSPECTIVE
U. S. to Buddhists: We Back Ky
World Furor Over Execution
By Beverly Deepe
A Special Correspondent
SAIGON.
The case of Ta Vinh, the
Chinese business man who
was executed Monday for
war-profiteering, began as a
simple economic trial and now
has evolved into controversial
issue here and abroad.
His pre-dawn public execu-
tion by firing squad in Saigon
has poured fuel on an already
simmering internal situation.
Ta Vinh's Chinese wife is
known to have asked the Mili-
tant Buddhist Organization
for financial support and
possible political revenge. The
organization-widely thought
to contain pro-neutralists and
pro-Communists has engi-
neered the downfall of previ-
ous governments, and could
do the same with this.
At the international level,
the issues became more
snarled.
U. S. WARNING
Officials of the American
Embassy-speaking privately
and unofficially-are known
to have warned South Viet-
amese government officials
that they could expect a pol-
itical black-eye in the Ameri-
can and European press-and
one that would harm the
"new society" image adopted
at the Honolulu conference
last month.
One diplomatic flap was
caused by the fear that Pek-
ing would exploit the execu-
tion of a Chinese business
man and thus gain support of
the hundreds of thousands of
overseas Chinese, while the
Taiwan government would
tacitly and silently be left
backing the Saigon regime.
It could be considered a
great irony that Peking might
come out in support of a
"corrupt capitalist."
Premier Ky
embezzling the equivalent of
$70,000 in public funds.
If this Vietnamese public
servant is executed, Premier
Ky undoubtedly will gain
enormous support within the
country. First, the Vietnamese
are tired of the overwhelming
waves of corruption. Second,
it will give Gen. Ky an appear-
ance of governing in opposi-
tion to American Embassy ad-
vice, which could strengthen
his prestige.
A week earlier, the Economy
Minister was replaced by a
young, energetic banking ex-
pert who is widely reputed by
the business community here
to be both honest and capable.
DICONTENT
The extent of corruption,
nepotism and bureaucratic
inefficiency-plus the fact that
the reins of economic power
are in the hands of a
privileged few with vested
When Ta Vinh's trial began, interests - has consistently
Chinese business men in been the root of discontent
Saigon's twin-city of Cholon among the low-class and
favored the Saigon govern- lower-middle class elements
ment. As the trial progressed, of the population.
however, more and more
Chinese resented the way the
case was handled.
Two other Chinese business
men got six-year prison terms
for economic speculation and
hoarding.
ANTI-CHINESE
The corruption is commonly
believed by almost all Viet-
namese to be operating at a
peak level. Premier Ky faces
even more complicated eco-
nomic problems than his
numerous predecessors for
the American build-up of
troops, coupled with increased
The Chinese considered Viet Cong sabotage of roads,
these trails as being anti- canals and rivers-has pro-
Chinese instead of anti-duced inflation that is poten-
corruption. They complained tially as dangerous to the
that while, Chinese business country as Viet Cong troops.
me were corrupt, the bribes
went into the pockets of Viet-
namese government em-
ployees, specifically at the
Ministry of Economy, where
bribes up and down the ad-
ministrative ladder were nec-
essary to get required paper
work for import and export
licensing.
Chinese
throughout
business men
Southeast Asia
operate an enormous economic
network, in which smuggling,
black marketing and "high
finance" are interwoven with
"high politics" and espionage
-including some for the Chi-
nese Communists.
In the face of these eco-
The government hastily nomic problems, which are
countered these arguments, the essence of Saigon's politi-
however, when only hours cal problem, the case of Ta
after the Ta Vinh execution, a Vinh means that the govern-
Vietnamese public servant con- ment of Prime Minister Ky
fessed, was convicted and was must govern-or else, like its
given a death sentence for predecessors, it will fall.

Date

1966, Mar. 17

Subject

Nguyễn, Cao Kỳ, 1930-2011; Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Protest movements--Vietnam (Republic); Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Religious aspects--Buddhism; Buddhism and politics--Vietnam (Republic); Vietnam (Republic)--Politics and government; United States--Relations--Vietnam (Republic)

Location

Saigon, South Vietnam

Coordinates

10.8231; 106.6311

Container

B4, F6

Format

newspaper clippings

Collection Number

MS 363

Collection Title

Beverly Deepe Keever, Journalism Papers

Creator

Keever, Beverly Deepe

Copyright Information

These images are for educational use only. To inquire about usage or publication, please contact Archives & Special Collections.

Publisher

Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries

Language

English